Portable inflatable obstacle course

ABSTRACT

An inflatable obstacle course having a base and one or more inflatable side walls connected to the base and forming a housing. The obstacle course can include one or more obstacles positioned within the housing. The side walls can be adhered to the base to form a water seal. A layer of fluid can be positioned within at least a portion of the housing to provide resistance to participants moving through the obstacle course and to add to the fun of traversing the obstacle course.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to recreational games, and moreparticularly to a portable inflatable obstacle course.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various types of recreational play structures are available to entertainchildren and adults. Inflatable playhouses, for example, have becomevery popular in recent years. For many of these inflatable structures,the primary means of providing entertainment is for children and adultsto bounce on the air inflated mattresses. As such, the entertainmentvalue of inflatable structures can be limited for older children oradults.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an inflatable recreationalplay structure that provides added entertainment for older children andadults and is also cost efficient, easy to construct and disassemble. Asused herein, the word “inflatable” has its plain and ordinary meaning asunderstood by one of skill in the art, including but not limited to theability to internally receive and retain a fluid filler such as gases(e.g., air, nitrogen, hydrogen) and/or liquids (e.g., water, foam, gel).As used herein, the word “fluid” has its plain and ordinary meaning asunderstood by one of skill in the art, including but not limited togases, liquids, plasmas, or any combination thereof.

Accordingly, disclosed herein is an inflatable obstacle water coursehaving a housing comprising a base, one or more inflatable wallsextending upwardly from the base, and a functional play featurecomprising a shallow layer of water extending throughout the course suchthat the water's resistance to movement through the course further addsto the fun of the game. The obstacle water course may also include oneor more functional play features and an inflatable mattress disposedbelow the base. In one embodiment, the inflatable walls extend upwardlyfrom the base and form a water seal with the base; and the shallow layerof water is contained within the housing and extends axially along thecourse. In another embodiment, ground supports can temporarily affix theinflatable mattress and/or inflatable walls to the ground surface.

Also disclosed herein is a portable obstacle hydro course withinflatable features and methods of erecting the play structure. Themethod comprises placing a flooring in a desired location, placing oneor more inflatable walls on top of the flooring to form a housing,adhering the flooring to the inflatable walls to form a sealed waterbarrier, inflating the walls with water first and then filling theflooring with water. In another embodiment, the method further comprisesthe steps of laying an inflatable mattress under the flooring. Inanother embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of stakingthe inflatable mattress to the ground with one or more ground supports.In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps ofstaking the housing to the ground with one or more ground supports. Inyet another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps ofinstalling one or more panes into open spaces between the inflatablewalls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate isometric views of a fluid-filled obstacle courseaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the fluid-filled obstacle courseof FIGS. 1A-1C with an inflatable mattress detached.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the fluid-filled obstacle course ofFIGS. 1A-1C.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the fluid-filled obstacle course ofFIGS. 1A-1C.

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate views of the fluid-filled obstacle course ofFIGS. 1A-1C with outer sidewalls removed.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate another embodiment of a fluid-filled obstaclecourse.

FIGS. 7A-D illustrate an embodiment of a fluid-filled obstacle.

FIGS. 8A-D illustrate another embodiment of a fluid-filled obstacle.

FIGS. 9A-D illustrate another embodiment of a fluid-filled obstacle.

FIGS. 10A-D illustrate another embodiment of a fluid-filled obstacle.

FIGS. 11A-H illustrate another embodiment of a fluid-filled obstaclecourse.

FIGS. 12A-E illustrate another embodiment of a fluid-filled obstaclecourse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the inventions will now be described with reference tothe accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations aredisclosed below, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in theart that the inventions described herein extends beyond the specificallydisclosed embodiments, examples and illustrations, and can include otheruses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. The terminology used in the description presented herein is notintended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simplybecause it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description ofcertain specific embodiments of the inventions. In addition, embodimentsof the inventions can comprise several novel features and no singlefeature is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or isessential to practicing the inventions herein described.

As will be described, the present application relates to a portableinflatable obstacle course that comprises a water component or otherfluid-like substance as one of the obstacles throughout the course. Thewater or fluid-like substance may impede the movement of people movingthrough the course, which in turn adds to the fun and/or challenge ofthe experience.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an embodiment of a portable inflatable obstaclecourse 10 which comprises a housing 12, inflatable mattress 14 and playfeatures 16. In some embodiments, the obstacle course 10 can beconstructed to be portable and modular. The obstacle course 10 can beinflated on-site at an event and deconstructed after the event hasended. In some embodiments, the obstacle course 10 may include one ormore ground supports 13 extending from the housing 12 and/or inflatablemattresses 14 to temporarily secure the obstacle course 10 to the groundor other suitable structure. The ground supports 13 may include ropes,stakes, pegs and/or spikes to connect the obstacle course 10 to theground or other suitable structure.

With reference to FIGS. 1A-1C, the obstacle course 10 can incorporate ahousing 12 made of one or more inflatable walls 18. The inflatable walls18 may have horizontal inflatable sides 20, vertical inflatable supports22 and/or inflatable ceilings 24. The inflatable ceilings 24 may be usedto add stability to the structure and for attachment points for one ormore play features 16. The inflatable walls 18 may be made from aflexible, fluid-sealing material, such as vinyl, Mylar, rubber or othersuitable material. The inflatable walls 18 may be inflated with a fluid(e.g., air, water, or some other fluid or combination of fluids). Insome embodiments, upon inflation, the inflatable walls 18 may becylindrical in shape 20 inches in diameter, or may be larger or smaller.For example, the inflatable walls 18 may be greater than 5 inches,greater than 10 inches, greater than 15 inches, greater than 20 inches,greater than 30 inches, and/or greater than 50 inches in diameter. Manyvariations are possible. In some cases, the inflatable walls 18 arenon-cylindrical (e.g., rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, oval-shapedand/or some other shape).

In some embodiments, the housing 12 can also include one or more panes26. The panes 26 can be used for external walls and/or internal walls todefine one or more paths for the obstacle course 10. When water 30, orother fluid, is added to at least part of the obstacle course 10, asdescribed in more detail below, the panes 26 may act to reduce thelikelihood that water or fluid leaks out of the housing 12, orrelocating within the obstacle course 10. The panes 26 may also be usedas ceiling sections to create an environment that may be at leastpartially insulated from the outside elements. In some embodiments, thepanes 26 may be made of a transparent material, a translucent material,or an opaque material. In some embodiments, the panes 26 can be paintedor have a tinted color. The panes 26 may be constructed out of plastic,acrylic, thermoplastic materials, plexiglass, glass or other suitablematerial. In some embodiments, one or more of the panes 26, or someportion thereof, are formed in a lattice or screen pattern. The panes 26may also include patterns, designs, logos or other function ordecorative aspects. In some embodiments, at least part of the housing 12may have an open-walled frame with few or no panes 26.

As further depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C, the housing 12 may include acontinuous or semi-continuous base or flooring 28 that at leastpartially covers the ground in between the inflatable walls 18 such thatat least some of the surface area between the walls 18 is covered. Theflooring 28 can be made out of inflatable material, such as the samematerial as the inflatable walls 18, or can be a non-inflatablematerial, such as sheets of rubber or vinyl plastic. When water 30 isadded to the obstacle course 10, as described in more detail below, theflooring 28 may act as a sealant to reduce the likelihood of fluid 30leakages or may reduce the likelihood of relocation of the water 30within the obstacle course 10 or between the obstacle course 10 andoutside of the obstacle course 10.

In some embodiments, upon inflation, water 30 may be added to at leastsome parts of the housing 12. The fluid 30 may act as an obstacle orother impediment to be used in conjunction with one or more playfeatures 16. The fluid 30 may be up to 45 inches deep, or may be deeper,or may be up to 15 inches deep, depending on the fluid used, theapplication, and the physical properties of the fluid's container. Insome embodiments, the fluid 30 may be water, gelatin, foam, mud andother suitable fluids. The viscosity of the fluid 30 may vary greatlyand it may be advantageous in different embodiments to use a fluid 30with a higher or lower viscosity. In some embodiments, the fluid 30 maybe initially added to the housing and then re-added as needed. In someembodiments, the fluid may be continuously or intermittently sprayed,e.g. by a sprinkler, hose or other fluid source. In some embodiments,the fluid may be sprayed so as to form a slick or slippery surface onslides or other play features 16. In some embodiments, the inflatablewalls 18 of the housing 12 may comprise hoses suitable for transferringfluids (not illustrated) to continuously or intermittently spray thefluid 30. The fluid filled hoses can include one or more aperturesextending from the inflatable walls 18 to spray the fluid 30. In such anembodiment, the apertures can protrude from the horizontal inflatablesides 20, the vertical inflatable sides 22, the ceilings 24, and/orother features. As described above, the fluid 30 may be retained withinat least part of the housing 12 via the flooring 28 and the inflatablewalls 18.

In some embodiments, the flooring 28 may include one or more drainageports to allow evacuation of fluid from the housing 12 as needed. Forexample, drainage may be necessary at the conclusion of the use of theobstacle course 10 to facilitate disassembly, to change the type offluid 30, or to alter fluid 30 levels for different obstacleenvironments. The one or more drainage ports may be left in aconfiguration during use allowing for constant or periodic recycling offluid 30 in the obstacle course. In some embodiments, the one or moredrainage ports may be closed during at least part of the use and openedat the user's discretion for disassembly or to facilitate fluid 30disposal or change.

In one embodiment, the obstacle course 10 can include at least oneinflatable mattress 14. As depicted in FIG. 2, the inflatable mattress14 may be positioned below at least part of the flooring 28. Theinflatable mattress 14 may provide additional cushioning and support tothe flooring 28. The inflatable mattress 14 may also provide anentertaining and/or challenging bounce effect to the obstacle course 10.In one embodiment, viewable in at least FIGS. 3 and 4, the inflatablemattress 14 may be sized to have a width and/or length greater than atleast part of the flooring 28 to provide a cushioning surface for slipsor falls. In some embodiments, the inflatable mattress 14 may bedesigned as a run-off to provide a safe cushion for slides and otherfeatures that may include the risk of a participant landing on theground or other structure. In some embodiments, the inflatable mattress14 may include drainage channels to facilitate fluid evacuation,transfer, or relocation.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1A-C and FIG. 4, in some embodiments,one or more play features 16 may be incorporated into the obstaclecourse 10. The play features 16 may be used to provide obstacles forentertaining or challenging users. The play features 16 may include oneor more slides, limbo poles, tunnels, pins, inflatable obstacles, rubberballs or hanging items. Other play features may be attached orattachable to at least part of the obstacle course 10. In someembodiments, the play features 16 may be permanently affixed to thehousing 12, the flooring 28, and/or other portions of the obstaclecourse 10. In another embodiment, the play features 16 may be affixedtemporarily and removed upon disassembly. In various embodiments, theone or more play features 16 can connect or orient with an interior orexterior surface of the obstacle course 10. For example, the interiorplay features 16 can be suspended from the ceiling 24 or extend from thevertical sides 22 or horizontal sides 20 at oblique or right angles. Insome embodiments, a slide play feature may run off into or be adjacent apool play feature or splash area 32, as depicted in at least FIGS.6A-6B.

In some embodiments, the obstacle course 10 may be a portable building,such as a playhouse or track, for use in entertaining people,particularly children, for parties or events. The obstacle course 10 maytake a variety of forms or configurations. As a non-limiting example,the form may be a straight away, a serpentine or curvy track, ageometric shape, a maze, racetrack, or a combination of these or otherconfigurations. In some embodiments, the obstacle course may have anarea as large as 100 feet long by 30 feet wide. In other embodiments,the structure can be larger or smaller as necessary to accommodate thedesired number of occupants. In some embodiments, the size of theobstacle course 100, or parts of the obstacle course 100 may depend atleast on the location and/or user preference. In some embodiments, theobstacle course 10 may comprise one or more discrete modular componentsthat can be combined or joined together.

In some embodiments, not all of the components of the obstacle course 10may be inflatable. The non-inflatable components may include one or moreof the housing, mattress, play features, walls, sides, supports, and/orceilings. In some embodiments, inflatable features may be integratedwith, or adjacent non-inflatable features. Inflatable play features maybe adjacent non-inflatable play features. Non-inflatable play featuresmay comprise Styrofoam, plastics, rubber, wood, etc. In someembodiments, one or more components of the obstacle course 10 may bepermanently inflated and may not be deflated upon end of use at theevent. As a non-limiting example, one or more play features may bepermanently inflated and may not be deflated upon end of use at theevent.

Some embodiments of a portable obstacle course may comprise a housingcomprising a floor and at least one inflatable wall, each of theinflatable walls comprising an interior and exterior surface, at leastone play feature, and a layer of fluid. The floor may be disposed atleast partially in the area defined by the interior surface of theinflatable walls and at least one of the inflatable walls may extendupwardly from the floor and form a substantially sealed fluid barrierwith the floor. The layer of fluid may be substantially contained withinthe housing and extend axially along the obstacle course. The obstaclecourse may further comprise an inflatable mattress, wherein theinflatable mattress may be disposed below at least part of the floor.The obstacle course may further comprise ground supports, which may besecurable to at least part of the floor and a ground surface, or may besecurable to at least part of the inflatable mattress and a groundsurface. The play features may comprise at least one of: slides, pins,tunnels, limbo poles, tire swings, rubber balls, and/or buoyant rafts.The obstacle course may further comprise an inflatable ceiling. Thefloor may further comprise at least one drainage feature. The layer offluid may comprise water. One or more of the inflatable walls may atleast partially comprise air.

FIGS. 5A-11H illustrate various embodiments of obstacle courses 10, atleast some of which may comprise play features 16. Like numbers used inFIGS. 5A-11H can correspond to like features of the embodiment describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1A-4.

In some cases, an inflatable obstacle course 10 can be assembled in amodular manner. For example, a ramp obstacle 34 (see, e.g., FIGS. 7A-7D)may be inflated and installed on a ground surface before or after otherobstacles and portions of the obstacle course 10. In some embodiments, aslide 36 (see, e.g., FIGS. 8A-8D) may be inflated and installed on aground surface before or after other obstacles and portions of theobstacle course 10. One or more fluid-holding obstacles 38, 40 (see,e.g., FIGS. 9A-10D) may be inflated and installed on a ground surfacebefore or after other obstacles and portions of the obstacle course 10.The one or more fluid-holding obstacles 38, 40 can include obstaclessuch as columns, large balls, horizontal bars, and/or other features.FIGS. 11A-12E illustrated assembled examples of obstacle courses 10.

In some embodiments, the features disclosed above can be used in amethod of erecting an obstacle course. For example, a method of erectingan obstacle course may include laying an inflatable mattress 14 in adesired location. The method may also include placing a flooring 28 ontop of the inflatable mattress 14. One or more inflatable walls 18 maybe placed on top of the flooring 28 and secured to the flooring 28 atleast part of which may form a substantially sealed fluid 30 barrier.Optionally, the method may include securing the inflatable mattress 14to the ground or other suitable structure. The inflatable walls 18 maybe placed at least partially on top of the flooring 28 and at leastpartially inflated with a first fluid. Inflatable play features 16 maybe at least partially inflated along with the inflatable walls 18.Optionally, the inflatable walls 18 may be secured to the ground, orother suitable structure, for additional support. The obstacle course 10may be used as an open-walled structure or, optionally, panes 26 may beinstalled. The method can further include at least partially filling theflooring 28 with a second fluid 30.

In some embodiments, a method of erecting an obstacle course 10 includesplacing a flooring 28 at a desired location. One or more inflatablewalls 18 may be placed on top of at least part of the flooring 28 andsecured to at least part of the flooring 28 to form a substantiallysealed fluid 30 barrier. The inflatable walls 18 may be placed on top ofthe flooring 28 and inflated with a first fluid. Any inflatable playfeatures 16 may be inflated along with the inflatable walls 18.Optionally, the inflatable walls 18 may be secured to the ground, orother suitable structure, for additional support. The obstacle course 10may be used as an open-walled structure or, optionally, panes 26 can beinstalled. The method may further include at least partially filling theflooring 28 with a second fluid 30.

In some embodiments of erecting an inflatable obstacle course, themethod may comprise the steps of placing a floor in a desired location,placing at least one inflatable wall at least partially on top of thefloor to form a housing, securing the floor to the inflatable walls toform a substantially sealed fluid barrier, at least partially inflatingat least one of the inflatable walls with a first fluid, and at leastpartially filling the floor with a second fluid. There may be more thanone order of the steps in which to accomplish the method. The method mayfurther comprise the steps of disposing an inflatable mattress at leastpartially under the floor, securing at least part of the inflatablemattress to the ground with at least one ground support, securing atleast part of the housing to the ground with at least one groundsupport, and/or installing at least one pane into at least one openspace between the at least one inflatable walls. The first fluid may beair. The second fluid may be water.

Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present inventions extend beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Additionally, the skilled artisan will recognize that any ofthe above-described methods can be carried out using any appropriateapparatus. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature,aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element,or the like in connection with an embodiment can be used in all otherembodiments set forth herein. For all of the embodiments describedherein the steps of the methods need not be performed sequentially.Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventions hereindisclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodimentsdescribed above.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inflatable obstacle course configured to beinstalled on a ground surface and comprising: a housing including: abase; and one or more inflatable walls extending upwardly from the base;and a functional play feature positioned at least partially within thehousing and including: a layer of fluid configured to resist the motionof a participant through the housing; and one or more obstacles.
 2. Theinflatable obstacle course of claim 1, comprising a mattress positionedbelow at least a portion of the base and providing a cushion between thebase and a ground surface on which the base is installed.
 3. Theinflatable obstacle course of claim 2, wherein the mattress isinflatable.
 4. The inflatable obstacle course of claim 1, wherein thebase and the one or more inflatable walls form a basin configured tohold the layer of fluid.
 5. The inflatable obstacle course of claim 1,wherein the one or more inflatable walls form a water seal with thebase.
 6. The inflatable obstacle course of claim 1, wherein the one ormore inflatable walls are adhered to the base.
 7. The inflatableobstacle course of claim 1, wherein the layer of fluid is containedwithin the housing and extends axially along a length of the obstaclecourse.
 8. The inflatable obstacle course of claim 1, comprising one ormore ground supports which temporarily affix the inflatable walls to theground surface.
 9. The inflatable obstacle course of claim 1, comprisingone or more vertical inflatable supports extending vertically from oneor more of the base and the one or more inflatable walls.
 10. Theinflatable obstacle course of claim 9, comprising one or more inflatableceiling members connected to two or more of the vertical inflatablesupports.
 11. The inflatable obstacle course of claim 9, comprising oneor more panes connected to one or more of the one or more inflatablewalls, the one or more vertical inflatable supports, and the one or moreinflatable ceiling members.
 12. The inflatable obstacle course of claim1, wherein the fluid is water.
 13. The inflatable obstacle course ofclaim 1, wherein the fluid is a foam.
 14. A method of assembling aninflatable obstacle course, the method comprising: positioning a base ona ground surface; connecting one or more inflatable walls to a top orside portion of the base to form a housing; inflating the inflatablewalls with water; positioning at least one functional play feature inthe housing; and filling at least a portion of the housing with a fluid.15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of connecting one or moreinflatable walls to a top or side portion of the base includes adheringthe one or more inflatable walls to the base to form a sealed waterbarrier
 16. The method of claim 14, comprising positioning a cushionedmattress between at least a portion of the base and the ground surfaceon which the base is positioned.
 17. The method of claim 16, comprisingstaking the cushioned mattress to the ground surface with one or moreground supports.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the cushionedmattress is inflatable.
 19. The method of claim 14, comprisinginstalling one or more panes into open spaces between the one or moreinflatable walls.